Accounting Standards Update 2021-04—Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)

 

Overview

On May 03, 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options.

The FASB issued the Update to clarify and reduce diversity in an issuer’s accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options (for example, warrants) that remain equity classified after modification or exchange. Stakeholders asserted that there is diversity in an issuer’s accounting for economically similar modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options due to a lack of explicit guidance in the Codification. Stakeholders requested that the Board provide guidance to clarify whether an issuer should account for a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that remains equity classified after modification or exchange as (1) an adjustment to equity and, if so, the related earnings per share (EPS) effects, if any, or (2) an expense and, if so, the manner and pattern of recognition.

The amendments in the Update affect all entities that issue freestanding written call options that are classified in equity. Specifically, the amendments affect those entities when a freestanding equity-classified written call option is modified or exchanged and remains equity classified after the modification or exchange. The amendments that relate to the recognition and measurement of EPS for certain modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options affect entities that present EPS in accordance with the guidance in Topic 260, Earnings Per Share.

The amendments in the Update do not apply to modifications or exchanges of financial instruments that are within the scope of another Topic. That is, accounting for those instruments continues to be subject to the requirements in other Topics.

The amendments in the Update do not affect a holder’s accounting for freestanding call options.

The amendments in the Update provide the following guidance for a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that is not within the scope of another Topic:

1. An entity should treat a modification of the terms or conditions or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that remains equity classified after modification or exchange as an exchange of the original instrument for a new instrument.
2. An entity should measure the effect of a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that remains equity classified after modification or exchange as follows:
   1. For a modification or an exchange that is a part of or directly related to a modification or an exchange of an existing debt instrument or line-of-credit or revolving-debt arrangements (hereinafter, referred to as a “debt” or “debt instrument”), as the difference between the fair value of the modified or exchanged written call option and the fair value of that written call option immediately before it is modified or exchanged. Specifically, an entity should consider:
      1. An increase or a decrease in the fair value of the modified or exchanged written call option in applying the 10 percent cash flow test and/or calculating the fees between debtor and creditor in accordance with Subtopic 470-50, Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments.
      2. An increase (but not a decrease) in the fair value of the modified or exchanged written call option in calculating the third-party costs in accordance with Subtopic 470-50.
   2. For all other modifications or exchanges, as the excess, if any, of the fair value of the modified or exchanged written call option over the fair value of that written call option immediately before it is modified or exchanged.
3. An entity should recognize the effect of a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that remains equity classified after modification or exchange on the basis of the substance of the transaction, in the same manner as if cash had been paid as consideration, as follows:
   1. A financing transaction to raise equity. The effect should be recognized as an equity issuance cost in accordance with the guidance in Topic 340, Other Assets and Deferred Costs.
   2. A financing transaction to raise or modify debt. The effect should be recognized as a cost in accordance with the guidance in Topic 470, Debt, and Topic 835, Interest.
   3. Other modifications or exchanges that are not related to financings or compensation for goods or services or other exchange transactions within the scope of another Topic. The effect should be recognized as a dividend. For entities that present EPS in accordance with Topic 260, that dividend should be an adjustment to net income (or net loss) in the basic EPS calculation.

An entity should recognize the effect of a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option to compensate for goods or services in accordance with the guidance in Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation.

In a multiple-element transaction (for example, one that includes both debt financing and equity financing), the total effect of the modification should be allocated to the respective elements in the transaction.
 

Transition and Effective Dates

The amendments in the Update are effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity should apply the amendments prospectively to modifications or exchanges occurring on or after the effective date of the amendments.

Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity elects to early adopt the amendments in this Update in an interim period, the guidance should be applied as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period.
 

Additional Information

• Download the Accounting Standards Update
• Press Release

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